1953 Corvette

1953 Corvette

A diecast model of a 1953 Corvette (with an inaccurate color - all 1953 Corvettes were white with red interior)

The 1953 Chevrolet Corvette had a fiberglass body, chrome-framed grill with 13 heavy vertical chrome bars, rounded front fenders with recessed headlights with wire screened covers, and no side windows or outside door handles.

It had a wrap around windshield and protruding, fender integrated taillights.

The interior featured a floor-mounted shifter for the Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission and oil pressure, battery, water temperature nd fuel gauages, plus a tachometer and a clock.

Each 1953 Corvette was virtually hand-built. All of the first year cars were Polo white with sportsman red interiors. (Hence the red diecast model above is inaccurate, although it's possible a Corvette owner would have it repainted bright red!)

All had black canvas convertible tops.

The first Corvette was built on June 30, 1953 at a Flint Michigan assembly plant.

300 Corvettes were built in 1953, of which 200 still exist today.

Bibliography
Corvette: The Great American Sports Car, by F+W Media